Connecting with Local Farmers
Addie de Candole
Welcome Back!
Happy new year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday, and are excited to start growing more food in 2018. At Farm to School BC, we love to hear about New Years Resolutions pertaining to growing and eating more local food! In this blog post, we are going to share few tips about how to connect with local producers here in Kamloops.
Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean there’s no local food available! This sage made it into my squash soup. Even at -12C, it tasted great!
Connecting with Local Farmers
While the ground is covered in snow, farmers are already thinking about growing for the upcoming year. February is the time to order seeds, plan crop rotations, and organize your schedule for the year. Which is why now is the perfect time to connect with your local producers! Whether you want to plan a field trip out to the farm, buy produce for your salad bar or cook with your students, start thinking about contacting your local producers.
There are several farms in Kamloops who are open to fields trips, including SSOL Gardens, Thistle Farm, and Gardengate. Please contact me if you would like more information about visiting a farm!
Regional News
We are so excited to announce that Farm to School BC is offering funding to three more schools in the Kamloops Hub Region, Raft River Elementary (Clearwater), Kay Bingham Elementary (North Kamloops), and Kamloops School of the Arts (South Kamloops)! We are so happy that our network here is growing, and look forward to connecting everyone. There are now eleven schools in the Kamloops Hub.
The next Learning Circle is set for January 29 from 3-5pm. We will be talking about how to raise funds to support your Farm to School program. Our long term goal and hope is that all of the Farm to School programs are able to sustain for the long-term, and January is a great time to start thinking about how to raise funds, specifically, tomato seedlings!
We partnered with Shaw TV Kamloops and Interior Community Services back in October to interview several of our schools, check out the video clips below!
Brock Middle School – Food Sustainability class, microgreens, and compost
Arthur Hatton Elementary – School garden and microgreens
Four Directions – Container garden, microgreens, and traditional foods
Animator Reflection
After taking seven weeks off following the birth of our daughter, I am back at work with a renewed passion for growing. Leaving the world a better place for our children is why so many of us are inspired by the Farm to School program, as food impacts not only the environment, but also the physical and mental health of our children. By making healthier, more local food choices, we can decrease our carbon footprint and live healthier and happier lives.
A lot of planning and growing can be done between now and the end of June. I encourage you seek out knowledge keepers in your community. As well, the Farm to School Animator is here to help you succeed with the Farm to School program! It takes a village to raise a child, and a provincial network to feed a school, so don’t hesitant to reach out for support when you need it. Happy growing!
As always, I can be reached at kamloopsregion@nullfarmtoschoolbc.ca or 250-571-0202.